Method of producing animated motion pictures



A ril 16, 1963 R. J. REID 3,085,877

Filed June 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

ROBERT J. REID,

Inventor BY Attorneys HERZIG & JESSUP,

April 16, 1963 R. J. REID 3,085,877

METHOD OF PRODUCING ANIMATED MOTION PICTURES Filed June 10, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ROBERT J. REID, Inventor HERZIG & JESSUP,

Attorneys United States Patent Filed June 10, 1959, Ser. No. 819,426 2Claims. (Cl. 96-27) This invention relates to a method of photographingand more particularly to a method of imposing images on a film by whichspecial effects may be achieved, such as images appearing, disappearingand moving or being suspended without any visible means of support, andalthough usable for still photography, it is more specifically intendedfor use in cinematography.

Heretofore weird and unusual effects in photography, and especially incinematography, such as having objects appearing, disappearing, movingwithout visible support, wherein inanimate objects are animated, andhighlighting of features of a subject have been very difficult,time-consuming and expensive to achieve. The methods heretofore employedto accomplish such effects have been by frame-by-frame exposure cuts,laboratory superimposing and matting procedures. Such methods are verytimeconsuming and expensive and therefore impractical for extensive use.

As an example of the presently used methods of photographing, realisticand unrealistic scenes, such ultramodern action as a space ship flyingto the moon, requires, by one method hundreds of separate pictures ofthe action of the space ship, which are photographed frame-byframe. Evenwhen the drawings are replaced by scale model miniatures, the sametime-consuming, expensive process of filming them one frame at a time isstill employed to create motion. A fantastic amount of time is necessaryto animate objects which are inanimate and therefore costs of suchspecial effects have been too prohibitive to make extensive use thereof.

A matting process, which is extensively used for special effects, isalso very difficult, expensive and time-consuming to accomplish,inasmuch as the action must be in part photographed on a strip of film,then the action desired to be superimposed on the film is photographedon a separate film, using expensive mats to enclose the object beinganimated, after which the film must be superimposed in a laboratory bytediou hand methods which require a relatively long period of time toachieve at a great expense.

By the method of the instant invention, on the other hand, variousspecial effects may be created on a single film with a single or adouble exposure of the film in a fraction of the time and costheretofore required to achieve such effect and providing anadvantageously improved life-like appearance of the animation. Asdescribed hereinafter, such special effects, as having an objectselectively appear and disappear in the scene objects floating throughthe air in a realistic manner Without any visible means of support,life-like action is simulated by scale models of actual objects andportions of objects are made to be highlighted or exaggerated at will orcaused to disappear, and other numerous effects heretofore consideredimpractical and impossible to achieve are easily and readily achieved.This method of photographing can be accomplished on black and whitefilm, color film, videotape or any desired type of film, and does notnecessitate a film of any particular exposure speed, ordinary film ,nowbeing used being very satisfactory and practical to use. A mostimportant feature of this invention is the possibility by the instantmethod of producing a film having the fantastic, but realistic specialeffect in a period of days as compared to a period of several weeksrequired by present methods and at a fraction of the cost of suchpresent methods.

3,085,877 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 The present invention provides a methodof photographing 'a scene or a subject in which a source of visibleradiant energy and a source of invisible radiant energy is directed onthe subject to be photographed, at luminescent material is applied onthe outer surface of selected subjects or portions thereof, andphotographed to impose and/ or superimpose :a desired image :or imageson all or selected portions of the film While eliminating one of thesources of radiant energy and selectively filtering out selective wavelengths of emitted light from the subjects to be photographed, whereuponthe film is processed in an ordinary manner for use in obtaining eitherpositive image-s of the film or positive transparencies for projection.

By the present method, many unusual and startling effects can beachieved which have either been heretofore impossible to achieve orimpractical because of the time and cost involved. By this process,effects, such as a space ship flying through space is realisticallyachieved by photographing a scale model travelling on a support means inthe form of a track or guide wire without the support means beingvisible in the image produced on the film. Considerable saving in costand time is achieved by using a scale model travelling on such a supportin a continuous motion and even having exhaust therefrom clearly visibleand imposed on the film, in contrast .to previous methods by which thetoy would necessarily be inched along its path and photographed by stopmotion, frame-bydrame to achieve the result, a method which istime-consuming and expensive.

In another example, a girls face may float through space with onlyportions of the face, such as the hair, lips or face being visible whilethe background is invisible or optionally visible. Not only can theseeffects be achieved in cinematography, but they can be achieved as wellin visual commercials which are popularly being shown on television. Bythis effect the hair alone may be optionally highlighted or caused to besingly visible, or lips may be visible alone and moving as in describingthe coiffeur being highlighted.

Inanimate objects may be caused to be animated, such as furniturewalking about unaided, pictures jumping off walls, dinner cookingitself, dishes washing themselves and other such Weird effects whichhave been heretofore impossible or impractical to achieve.

As a comparison to the cost of such effects achieved by other methods, aone minute commercial prepared by usual methods of animation require upto three months to complete and costs hundreds of dollars per foot,whereas by the present method the effect can be produced in a matter ofdays at a fraction of the cost.

The method of the present invention provides for photographing a subjectin still shots or in cinema to impose an image on the film ofselectively the entire subject, or parts thereof, or optionally causingthe subject or parts thereof to selectively appear and reappear in view.The method anticipates use of luminescent and non-luminescent surfaceson the subject to which visible and/or invisible radiant energy isdirected. While the subject is being photographed under visible radiantenergy, known as white light, the entire subject can be photographedwhereas, when a black light or invisible radiant energy is directed onthe subject, only selected portions of the subject having a luminescentsurface, excitable by the black light is photographed on the film. Thefilm may be exposed in one run to impose an image 0 fthe entire subjecton the film and re-run to impose only an image of the luminescentmaterial excited by the invisible radiant energy, whereby such Weird andsupernatural effects or natural effects not obtainable or not practicalby other methods can be quickly and easily achieved in less time and atless cost than previously possible. The invention further anticipatesthe use of a filtering means interposed between the subject and the filmto block or quench selected waves of emitted visible light from reachingthe film, thereby imposing only an image of the desired luminescentsurfaces on the film.

The visible radiant energy may comprise any of the conventional formsavailable including incandescent, are, or other types of energy, knownas a white light, which is extensively used to produce photoluminescencewhich is a light emission induced by visible light. The invisibleradiant energy is produced by either an ultra-violet radiation ofsuitable wave lengths, or an infra-red radiation, or combinationsthereof to produce the desired effect. The ultra-violet radiation beingused for selected material within the luminescent category offluorescent material, while the infra-red radiation is most useful andeffective with phosphorescent material in which the light emissionexcited in the material persists after the exciting radiation has beenremoved, causing an afterglow. Therefore by choice of luminescentmaterials, and exciting radiant agent in the form of an invisibleradiant energy, a filtering means to control exposure of the film byblocking or quenching unwanted visible light, and a conventional lenssystem in a conventional camera, the method of the instant invention maybe applied to any of the conventional films now available to produce thedesired result as will be hereinafter described in detail.

It is therefore and object of this invention to provid a new andimproved method of photographing whereby selected subjects of a group ofsubjects may be photographed.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improvedmethod of photography in which the subject selected to be photographedmay be supported and/or transported by means which is not photographedon the film,.while the selected subject is photographed.

A furtherobject of this invention is to provide anew and improved methodof photography in which subjects treated wholly or inpart by a selectivevisible or invisible material may be exposed to a film to photographeither the subject, without the applied material showing, or the appliedmaterial without the normal. appearance showing, or both showing, or invarious degrees of visual efiect.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a method ofphotography herein described which provides means for filtering orquenching undesired images from being imposed on the fihn duringphotography of the subject.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmethod of photography whereby such effects as described above can beachieved by a single run of a film.

Still another object of this invention it to provide a new and improvedmethod of photography of the character described whereby such effectscan be achieved by successive exposures of the same film.

Ageneral and very important object of this invention is to provide a newand improved method of photography which overcomes disadvantages ofprior methods heretofore intendedto accomplish generally the samepurposes.

These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from thefollowing drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

In the drawings: I FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, in elevation,illustrat- .ing an effect achieved by the method of the instantinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating more clearly one embodimentof the method of the invention; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, inelevation, of another etfect resulting from the'method of thisinvention; FIGURE 4 is a view, in elevation, illustrating the method ofthe present invention as is seen by direction of one type of radiantenergy to the subject;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing the effect achieved whenanother type of radiant energy is directed towards the subject;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating more clearly the methodemployed to achieve the effects of FIGURES 4 and 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of still another embodiment of themethod of this invention.

In reference to the drawings, although the method for performing orproducing the various special effects is basically the same, the methodcan be for the purpose of better understanding, basically divided intotwo embodiments and is so illustrated in the drawings. The firstembodiment can be classified as a double exposure of a film upon whichdiscrete images are superimposed, i.e., imposing an image on a piece orstrip of film, rolling back the film and then re-exposing the film tosuperimpose another image on the film. This embodiment is bestillustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 in which FIGURE 3 shows a variationthereof. The second basic embodiment of the method is a single exposureor run of the film whereby selective images are imposed thereon duringthe run and is best illustrated in FIGURES 4-7. It is to be understood,however, that due to the variety of effects made possible by the instantmethod, the figures are not to be confined to a single or double run,but may be interchanged as will be hereinafter described to producedesired effects.

Referring particularly to FIGURES l and 2, the first embodiment of theinstant method is illustrated, wherein an inanimate object, a part of asubject, is animated to produce the illusion or phenomenon of animation.

As an example, in FIGURE 1, a subject to be photographed, generallydesignated by the numeral 10, includes a background generally designatedby the numeral 11 consisting of a sink cabinet 12, a wall 13, a stack ofdishes 14 and a drying basket 16, each object having generally aphotoluminescent surface, that is, a surface capable of reflecting oremitting when a source of visible radiant energy, commonly known aswhite light, is directed thereagainst, whereby an exposure is made ofthe subject 10 to impose an image of the subject, as a background on thefilm. The film referred to in the application and indicated at 17 inFIGURE 2 may be either a singular piece of film for still photography,or a strip of film for use in cinematography, as desired, but will bemost commonly regarded as a strip of film as used in the latter to gainthe fullest advantage of an instant method.

The herein present method is capable of practically using a wide rangeof film emulsion, the film speed not being critical. This method hasbeen applied to various films having comparatively slow speeds, whichare normally and conventionally used in present cinematography, withhighly satisfactory results and using both black and white emulsions,color emulsions and videotape.

In reference to the photographic equipment required for the presentmethod, it is believed sufficient to state that any present cameraequipment can be used with this process, having a normal lens system 18and capable of receiving a filtering means, such as indicatedschematically at 19 in FIGURE 2, and wherein the film 17 is payed outfrom a reel 21 and taken up as on a reel 22. It is preferred, however,that the camera be of a type in which the film 17 may be rolled back, asdesired, for re-exposure of a film through the same lens system 18.Optionally the film 17 may be manually rolled back for re-exposure.

A source of visible radiant energy, i.e., white light, is in dicated at23 and is schematically shown as connected to a circuit 24, including asource of electrical energy 26 and a control for the light 23 as by arheostat or potentiometer indicated at 27, whereby the intensity of theenergy of a lamp 23 may be varied, or the source 23 completelyeliminated for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

An invisible radiant energy, i.e., a black light, is indicated at 28 inthe same figure and is illustrated as being connected to a circuit 29,having a source of electrical energy 31 and a potentiometer 32 forcontrol of the intensity thereof, or for the elimination of the source28.

The visible radiant energy 23 may be provided in any of the numeroustypes of white light including incandescent, arc, and other forms, toproduce a White light conventionally used to illuminate photoluminescentsurfaces. The invisible radiant energy 28 may be provided in the form ofan ultraviolet radiation, having wave lengths within the ultravioletspectrum for exciting luminescent surfaces having fluorescence, oroptionally, an infra-red radiation for exciting luminescent surfaceshaving phosphorescence. Also, the invisible radiant energy may consistof a combination of ultraviolet energy and infrared energy for desiredselective results to be described. The radiant enengy sources 23 and 28are merely schematically indicated in FIGURE 2 and may be provided inany quantity and practical arrangement for illuminating or excitingsurfaces of the subject 10.

In the phenomenon of the instant method of photographing the subject theouter surfaces of selective objects or portions of the subject aretreated by applying a luminescent material on the outer surface of theobject for excitation by the invisible radiant energy 28. In the examplechosen and illustrated, FIGURES 1 and 2, the dishes 14 of a stack ofdishes are coated on their outer surfaces by a luminescent material, byspraying, brushing or the like.

In the first step of the method, the white light 23 is directed on thesubject 10 with the dishes 14 stacked as illustrated therein toilluminate the subject. The strip of film 17 is exposed to the subjectthrough the lens system 18 of the camera 15 whereby a background imageshowing the entire object 19, including the cabinet 12, the wall 13,stack of dishes 14 and wire basket 16 is imposed on the strip of film17. After a pre-determined run of the strip of film 17, the film 17 isrolled back to the supply reel like 21 for re-exposure of the film 17 inthe following manner.

The white light 23 is extinguished or appreciably decreased, and theblack light 28 is directed on the subject 16 to excite the luminescentsurface of the stack of dishes 14 to cause the luminescent surface toemit a visible light, which, by re-exposure on the film 17, issuperimposed on the film 17 as another image.

The filtering means 19 is interposed between the subject 110 and thefilm 17 during re-run of the film 17 to block or quench any undesiredvisible rays of light being emitted from the subject. As an example, ifthe cabinet 12 is a highly reflective surface, visible light rays may bereflected or emitted therefrom in response to the excitation by theblack light 23, and a suitably colored filter is interposed to blocksuch undesired light, but at the same time not blocking the visiblelight emitted from the plates 14.

As an example, to expose a black and white film, an effectivecombination of filters commercially known as K2 and CCI 10, or an X-lhas been satisfactorily used. For color photography depending on huesdesired, combination of the above plus one or more of the followingcommercially known as: B58, B57, 85B, 23, CCOS-SO, 83 Series 8, C015,CCO5RH83, Aero DC and Blue Filters 38, 39, 40, 41, 45, 46 and 47 havebeen eifectively used.

Now, in order to produce a realistic action of a plate 14 rising intothe air, dipping into solution contained in the sink and exitingtherefrom and into the drying basket 16 for dryingto produce the effectof a dish washing itself Without human aid, by the present process, aperson, indicated in broken lines at 32 in FIGURES 1 and 2 having anon-reflective and non-luminescent outer surface, may enter the scene ofthe subject 10, pick up a dish 14-, dip the dish in the solution in thesink 20 and then transport the dish to the drying rack 16 as indicatedat 14' to superimpose an image of the plate on successive frames of thefilm to produce the phenomenon of motion of the plate while no image ofthe person 32 is superimposed on the film. The outer surface of theperson, being nonluminescent, is not excited by the energy of theinvisible radiation source 28 and is thereby invisible to the camera.

To facilitate handling of the plate like 14, or other objects caused tomagically fly through the air, a handle or tab 33 may be secured in anobscure position, as on the back side of the plate 14, whereby the platemay be handled without obstructing visible light emitted from the plate14 to the camera 15. It is to be understood that many objects may behandled from a position which does not obstruct or block the emittedlight of the object itself without the necessity of rigging such as 33.As an example, a cup having its own handle could be easily carried bythe handle and turned in such a position so that no portion of theexposed surface to the camera is blocked by fingers of the persontransporting the cup. Within the exemplified subject 10 various othereffects could be accomplished by the person 32 without having the imageof the person 32 imposed on the film during re-exposing thereof, such asopening or closing of the window indicated at 34, or opening or closingof a drawer 36 or a door 37, there being no limitation to the movementpossible by the present method to achieve the weird and fantasticphenomenon of animation of an inanimate object.

The luminescent material applied to the object, such as the plate 14,may be of any of the many types of material which are fluorescent orphosphorescent material being preferable in instances where an afterglowis undesired and a phosphorescent material being usable where anafterglow is desired or not objectionable. As an example, if it isdesired to cause an image of the person 32 to appear magically in theresultant strip of film '17, the white light 24 may be turned on duringthe re-run to illuminate the entire scene and cause the person 32 toappear within the picture having a translucent appearance on the film.However, in the method described for FIG- URES 1 and 2, the desiredobjective is to personify the inanimate object 14 whereby the objectmoves in a very realistic manner, as though it were being actuallyhandled by a person, but the person is not visible in the picture, thatis the resultant superimposed picture on the film strip 17. If there aresome luminescent spots or areas on the person 32, excitation of suchareas may be blocked or quenched from imposition on the film 17 bychoice of suitable filters 19 of suitable colors which block theemitting visible light from the film 17. A very effective way to avoidimposition of an image of the person 82 is to shield the person with ablack, non-luminescent robe or dress, and perhaps even a hood over thehead, inasmuch as most skin surfaces and many cosmetics are excitable toa degree by an invisible radiant energy such as ultra-violet orinfra-red energy to emit a visible light.

It will now be more clearly seen than an effect heretofore impossible orimpractical to achieve is easily and readily achieved by the use of thispresent method, wherein it is now possible by this method to have avisible background imaged on the film along with greatly improved,realistic animation of an inanimate object without the use of theheretofore expensive, time-consuming and awkward methods consisting ofsingle-frame exposures, stop-frame exposures, matting and animation bycartoons.

By the present improved method, the film 17 may be exposed to impose theimage of the subject 10 to form the background thereon for apre-determined length of film, the length of film corresponding to thelength of film it will be necessary to impose the action and time lengthrequired to provide the desired animation, such as the washing of theplate 14 described above, whereby there is a background during theentire animation of the plate '14 to add realism to the scene. Theobjects to be animated, such as the plates 14, may be photographed bythe white light in its stacked condition, as illustrated in FIGURE 1during the initial run of the film 17 through the camera 15, inasmuch asluminescent material appears normal during exposure to white light,whereupon extinguishing of the white light and direction of the blacklight, causes only the surfaces of the object having luminescentmaterial coated thereon to photograph in the ensuing re-exposure of thefilm 17. It is to be understood that objects having a naturalluminescence need not be coated with a luminescent material, suchobjects possibly emitting sufficient visible light for imposition on thefilm 17, or if insufficient in itself to emit sufficient visible light,may be intensified by the application thereon of a luminescent materialhaving a higher degree of excitability.

In reference to FIGURE 3, another effect is illustrated which is madepossible by the instant method. The subject as illustrated in thisfigure may be placed against any normal desired scene or background,plain or otherwise, to produce an effect for use as an advertisement. Inthe FIGURE 3, the head 40 of a person to be photographed is shown ashaving supported thereon, a wreath 41 consisting of a band 42,encircling the top of the head, and upstanding stems 43, extendingtherefrom on which objects such as flowers 44 are secured. Severaleffects may be accomplished depending on the requirement of theadvertisement.

As an example, if it is desired to create the phenomenon of a halo ofthe flowers 44 seemingly spaced from the hair 4 of the head of thesubject 10' an image of the head 46 is imposed on the strip of film 17and given any desired action, such as turning to best display thecoiffure 46, after which the film 17 is backed up and re-exposed to thesubject 10', as through the lens system 18, to superimpose an image ofonly the flowers 44 repeating the entire action of the movement of thehead previously imposed on the film. The rerun is made under aninvisible radiant energy, such as ultra-violet light, to exciteluminescent material applied to only the flowers, 44 as an example,whereby only images of the flowers 44 are superimposed on the strip offilm 17. The head 40 repeats the exact action previously recorded on thefilm, but during the re-run is invisible to the camera and not excitableby the source of invisible radiant energy to emit visible light rays.

If desired, the stems 43 may be likewise coated with a luminescentmaterial for excitation by the ultra-violet energyto the image whichwould be superimposed during the re-run of the film 17, thereby hidingthe band 42 completely, yet having the hair or coiffure 46 visiblebecause of imposition thereof during the first run of the film 17. Thedegree of opaqueness of the image of the flowers 44 may be controlled byproper selection of filters and by control of the sources of radiantenergy in the instant method, whereby the image of the flowers 44, maybe imposed as opaque, or translucent, to provide ethereal effects. It ispossible also by the present method to cause the flowers 44 to appearmagically upon the picture and gradually or suddenly fade therefrom anddisappear during the second run of the film 17 to superimpose the imageof the flowers. The invisible radiant energy is turned on or intensifiedat a desired timing, causing the image of the flowers 44 to be imposedon the film 17 at selected times, and by elimination of the excitingsource of energy 28, may cause the cessation of the image of the flowers44 on the film, whereby in the final result of the film, while the head41 is turning, the flowers 44 appear on the coiffure, turning with thehead, and subsequently disappear before the movement is com pleted.

Any desired combination of effects may be achieved by this method. Forexample, if it is desired to highlight the coiffure 46 and eliminate thedistraction of a face, this is easily and quickly achieved by thepresent method more clearly illustrated in FIGURES 4-6. Portions of thesubject are coated with an application of luminescent material, as foran example in FIGURES 4 and 5, the coiffure 51 of a human head 50 andperhaps additionally, the lips 52 thereof, the subject 50 beingillustrated in broken lines in the schematic diagram of the method inFIGURE 6. In the diagram of FIGURE 6, like parts of the previousembodiment of the instant method are referred to by like numbers.

In the instant embodiment of the invention, the subject 50, as anexample, may be subjected to both white light 23 and black light 28 andthe selected portions 51 and 52, coated with a luminescent material,being exicitable by the source of black light 28, whereupon, as the film17 is being exposed, the intensity of the white light 23 may bedecreased or eliminated as by the use of the potentiometer 32 leavingthe black light 28 dominant. The effect of FIGURE 5 is thereby achieved,wherein the coilfure 51 and the lips 52 are selectively prominentlyimaged on the film 17 or singularly imposed on the film 17 with theremaining portions of the head 40 and body of the subject 50 beinginvisible. The subject 50 may continue to animate with any desiredmovement, such as turning the head to display the coifi'ure to bestadvantage, and the face of the person is invisible and therefore notdistracting to the coiffure. Also, if desired, the lips 52 may havetheir own motion, as an example, describing the merits of the productused for the coiffure wherein the movement of the lips without any imageof the remainder of the face, provides a startling phenomenon.

If desired, white lights 23 may be re-introduced on the subject 50 tocause an image of the face and body of the subject 50 to reappear asseen in FIGURE 4. Again, as in the previous embodiment of a method,filtering means 19 is interposed between the subject 50 and the film 17to block or quench undesired visible light from the subject 50. It is tobe noted by this present method, only one run of the film 17 is requiredunless it is desired to keep the background 53 in continual visibilityin the scene. The background 53 may be likewise treated by applicationof a luminescent material, if it is desired to cause the background tobe selectively visible in the scene, depending upon the efifect desiredto be achieved. As an example, if the background is to be constantwithin the film within the resultant image, whereby the background canbe seen through portions of the subject not having luminescent material,as the blank space 54 within the coitfure 51 of FIGURE 5, the backgroundcould be imposed on the film 17 by an initial run during exposure to awhite light 23 as described in connection with the FIGURES 1 and 2.Likewise, the background 53 may have a non-luminescent photoluminescentouter surface, or luminescent in varying degrees, to achieve a desiredeffect.

It will be appreciated and more clearly understood at this point that bythis method the effects achieved are limitless. Selective surfaces ofsubjects can be made to appear, disappear, be high-lighted or caused tochange. By the use of applications of luminescent material to surfaceslike the background 53 which are excitable only by the black light andnot by the white light, selective omission of one of the lights causesonly corresponding surfaces of the background to appear. In this manner,invisible writing on a wall may be caused to mysteriously appear merelyby changing from a white light to a black light during exposure of thefilm, or optionally, by reexposing the exposed film, having thephoto-luminescent material imaged thereon, to the background havingluminescent material invisible to white light, wherein exposure underthe black light causes the luminescent material to mysteriously appearand disappear.

Another example of a single-run application of film to provide animationheretofore unobtainable, is illustrated in FIGURE 7 wherein like partsof previous embodiments are referred to by like numbers. In FIGURE 7there is shown a background 60 having thereon, as an example, a coating61 of luminescent material to provide an image of a sky and a pluralityof areas of decreased size indicated as 62 and perhaps of varying sizeand varying intensity of luminescent material to provide images of starsand planets. A rocket indicated at 63, comprising a scale model inminiature scale, is movably supported on a wire or track indicated at 66by support means comprising brackets or rigging 64 secured to the rocket63 and out of the line of sight of a camera 15. The track 66 issupported at its ends as by brackets 67. The track 66 and brackets 64have a nonluminescent outer surface, such as a dull blacknon-reflecting, non-fluorescent and non-phosphorescent surface which isnot excitable by a source of invisible radiant energy orblack light 28.The rocket 63, having a coating of luminescent material, fluorescent orphosphorescent, applied thereto, when moved and exposed to the film 17through the filtering means 19, imposes an image of the rocket on thefilm 17. Such an imposition can be achieved by a single run of the film17, the track 66 being invisible in the resultant scene on the film 17,thereby creating the effect of animation to the rocket 63.

If desired, the support means may take human form, as previouslydescribed, wherein the human would support the rocket 63 as by a bracketlike 64 to create motion of the rocket 63, yet the person beinginvisible and not excitable by the source of black light. If desiredalso, the background 60 may comprise a non-luminescent,photo-luminescent surface emitting visible light when exposed to a whitelight 23, on the first run of the film '17, after which the film may bebacked up and re-exposed after the track 66 is supported on thebackground 60 by means of the brackets 67, whereupon re-exposure of thefilm will superimpose the image of the rocket 63 alone when the whitelight 23 is eliminated and the black light 28 is directed on the scene.The track 66, having a nonluminescent outer surface, is not excitable bythe black light 28 and therefore invisible in the final superimposedscene. Again, as in the previous embodiments, various effects oftranslucency may be achieved by control of the white and black lightsources 23 and 28 respectively, and by the use of potentiometers 27 and32 respectively.

It will now be more clearly understood that countless effects may beachieved, by the control of the exposure of visible and invisibleradiant energy to a subject or in any varying degree thereof, to achieverealistic or ethereal and fantastic eflYects. It is possible by thismethod, as a further example, to apply a luminescent material, invisibleto white light and emitting visible light when exposed to a black light,on a subject to cause an entire change in appearance of the subject whenthe source of radiant energy is changed from an invisible to a visibleradiant energy source or vice versa,

While it has been found most practical to use an ultraviolet radiationsource for exciting fluorescent and phosphorescent materials, it islikewise within the scope of this invention to use an infra-red energyradiated upon excitable phosphorescent materials to achieve theabovedescribed efiects, with the addition of use of a film having aninfra-red sensitive emulsion. In the use of the invisible radiant energywith humans, it is preferable to use an invisible radiant energy havinglonger waves to which a human being may be exposed for a longer periodof time without danger of any injurious eifect from the energy, whereaswith inanimate objects, the invisible radiant energy is unlimited inintensity or wave-length.

As previously mentioned, a wide variety of luminescent material isnaturally available for use in the present method. However, it has beenfound most practical for facilitating application thereof to mix avariety of materials with a fluorescent oil. In general, the oil ismixed with various paints, powders and chalks, tempera paints beingpreferable for use on the skin of a human or other live object, to avoidinjury or contamination of the tissues of the object. The solids orliquids may be mixed with the fluorescent oil in full strength or in anyvarying strength and have been mixed with solids such as talcum andcosmetics and with liquids, such as Water, quinine water and seltzerwater. Whereas many of these objects used, such as soap, quinine waterand cosmetics, have inherent excitability to an invisible radiantenergy, such excitability can be intensified by the addition of moreintense luminescent materials. Many variations .of intensities can beused to effect different phenomena whereby the treated subject may beeither pale or bright, prominent or unobtrusive, opaque, translucent, ortransparent, depending on the intensity of luminescence of the materialused.

Different actions of different eifects require various techniques inactual operation. As a general rule, it may be stated that whatevermethod is used to produce animation, it is clearly visible to the nakedeye, even though it may be concealed by dark cloth, flat paint and/ orother materials. The means of operation can be achieved by any sort ofspecial rigging, by wire, rod, string or track, such as the riggingindicated at 66 in FIGURE 7, or where a more realistic and complicatedmovement is required, a human, such as 32 in FIGURE 1, having anon-luminescent outer surface, is fully capable of achieving themovement while being invisible in the final result of enclosure orsuperimposure.

Besides direct photography, as previously described, this methodprovides also for making possible several separate depth superimposureson one piece of film within the camera 15. This is accomplished by firstfilming the required background, then rolling back the film within thecamera before each successive superimposure as additional subjects arefilmed, each at a pre-calculated range closer to the camera so that notransparency occurs.

For example, to produce a scene with a group of space ships operating atgreatly varied distances from a space platform, the background of starsis first imposed on the film in deep space. Then, after rolling back thefilm, the space platform could be placed against a background having anon-reflective and non-luminescent background at a mathematicallyprescribed distance and superimpose it on the film. This same procedureis repeated until each space ship required by the script has appeared inthe proper place and action. This particular action is not fullyillustrated here, but can be interpreted by the illustration on FIGURE7.

The same method may be applied against a normally lit motion picture setwith the exception that no invisible radiant energy or black light isused in photographing the initial background or set. The same procedurecan be used to create transparent creatures within a normal orsupernatural setting by changing the type and intensity of make-ups :andmaterial used. Still another effect is the complete and instantaneoustransformation of a person before the camera. In olher 'words, an actorwearing invisible make-up of luminescent material can appear on anormally lighted scene and without stopping the action be changed intowhatever creature the script calls for. This is achieved by means of theaddition of a predirected battery of black lights on a normally lit set.On cue the potentiometer blends out the necessary amount of white lightallowing activation of the previously invisible black light, as thelight sources are simultaneously brought into full eifect. These andmany other effects, as now will be more clearly seen, can now beaccomplished.

While I have herein shown and described my invention in What I haveconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of myinvention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed hereinbut is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace anyand all equivalent devices and methods.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of producing animated motion pictures, comprising the stepsof: arranging a set of objects to be photographed; treating certain ofsaid objects to emit visible light when subjected to an invisibleradiation while the remaining objects are dark in said invisibleradiation; illuminating said set with visible light and photographingthe same on a strip of moving picture film sensitive only to visiblelight; extinguishing said visible light; illuminating said set with saidinvisible radiation; and rephotog'raphing said set on said same strip offilm while moving said certain objects about said set by means which aredark in said invisible radiation whereby, in the References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 656,769 Hunter Aug. 28, 19001,375,918 Lederer Apr. 26, 1921 2,191,939 Marx Feb. 27, 1940 2,395,985Berry Mar. 5, 1946 2,395,986 Berry Mar. 5, 1946

1. A METHOD OF PRODUCING ANIMATED MOTION PICTURES, COMPRISING THE STEPSOF: ARRANGING A SET OF OBJECTS TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED; TREATING CERTAIN OFSAID OBJECTS TO EMIT VISIBLE LIGHT WHEN SUBJECTED TO AN INVISIBLERADIATION WHILE THE REMAINING OBJECTS ARE DARK IN SAID INVISIBLERADIATION; ILLUMINATING SAID SET WITH VISIBLE LIGHT AND PHOTOGRAPHINGTHE SAME ON A STRIP OF MOVING PICTURE FILM SENSITIVE ONLY TO VISIBLELIGHT; EXTINGUISHING SAID VISIBLE LIGHT; ILLIMINATING SAID SET WITH SAIDINVISIBLE RADIATION; AND REPHOTOGRAPHING SAID SET ON SAID SAME STRIP OFFILM WHILE MOVING SAID CERTAIN OBJECTS ABOUT SAID SET BY MEANS WHICH AREDARK IN SAID INVISIBLE RADIATION WHEREBY, IN THE FINISHED FILM STRIPSAID CERTAIN OBJECTS APPEAR TO MOVE UNAIDED ABOUT SAID SET UNDER VISIBLEILLUMINATION.